Ravitch: Why Should Teachers Have Unions? WAPO, The Answer...

[YvonneCa]

...Sheet, Strauss:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/diane-ravitch/ravitch-why-should-teachers-ha.html

Excerpt:

The fight in Wisconsin now is whether public sector unions should have any power to bargain at all. The fight is not restricted to Wisconsin; it is taking place in many other states, including New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and elsewhere. The battle has already been lost in other states.

I have been wondering if advocates of corporate school reform, such as Bill Gates, Eli Broad, and Michelle Rhee will come to the aid of the teachers in Wisconsin. I have been wondering if President Obama and Secretary Duncan, who were quick to applaud the firing of teachers in Central Falls, Rhode Island, will now step forward to support the teachers in Wisconsin. I have been wondering if Secretary Duncan, who only a few days earlier had led a much-publicized national conversation in Denver about the importance of collaboration between unions and management, will weigh in to support the teachers. I am ever hopeful, but will take care not to hold my breath.

If there is no organized force to advocate for public education in the state capitols of this nation, our children and our schools will suffer. That's the bottom line. And that's why I stand with the teachers of Wisconsin. I know you do too.

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. It's not the money...

...I just want to be able, when necessary, to flunk the son of a superintendent or the daughter of a school board member, or an All-State first team athlete, when appropriate -- and I've done all three in my thirty years -- without having to pick out which bridge I and my family get to live under first.

[mainstreetonce]

2. good post

and when the son of a school board member needs to be referred to the child study team for help with a learning problem, you need to be able to make the best decision for the child.

[YvonneCa]

3. I agree. Thank you for...

...your post.

[dkf]

4. It is odd how government employees seem to need much more protection from arbitrary decisions

Than private industry workers. Or is it assumed that private industry has rampant unfairness and so would public workers if left to the mercy of other public workers? All I know is these accusations sure do make me look twice at the higher ups in the public sector.

[Luminous Animal]

5. Private employees do need protections. I see abuse in the private sector

everyday. Mandatory O/T with no extra pay. Mandatory breaks not enforced. Misclassification of employee's status. Employees who should be on payroll but are paid as an independent contractor and tied to a fixed bid rather than an hourly rate. Employers who hire from the welfare rolls, take the govt. tax credit, then churn the employee out before they qualify for benefits.

[YvonneCa]

7. And it would be even worse without...

...the union protections already fought for.

[YvonneCa]

6. Private industry used to have "rampant unfairness"...

...before unions were created to stand up for them and collectively bargain for their rights. 40 hour week and weekends, child labor laws, equal rights for women in the workplace, healthcare benefits and some kind of plan for a pension (SS, state or company pension plan, 401k) all enjoyed by both public and private employees...all because of unions. I don't think going back to the old days are a good idea. Do you? It's kind of like 'a woman's right to choose'...we fought for these things. (Or our parents and grandparents did.)

[Johonny]

8. why do wealthy actors, writers, sports stars all belong to unions

because collectively there is power to negotiate and alone there is always someone richer and greedier that will try to get you to take less that what can easily be obtained by collective bargaining. Collective bargaining generally leads not to highly inflated salaries and wasteful spending, but fair salaries and a collective feeling of support for their work place. Which is of course why unions in bad economic times do agree to lower demands.